The Sharks produced one of the biggest upsets of the United Rugby Championship season on Saturday night, defeating the DHL Stormers 30-19 at DHL Stadium in Cape Town and ending the Stormers’ eight-match unbeaten run in the competition. In front of a capacity crowd of over 50 000, the Sharks delivered a confident and disciplined performance that silenced the home supporters and reshuffled the URC standings.
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The Sharks set the tone early, scoring the first try through a powerful maul finished by Jason Jenkins in the fifth minute, and they never relinquished momentum. Jaco Williams followed up with a converted try after a smart cross-kick, and Jordan Hendrikse’s accurate kicking kept the Sharks ahead on the scoreboard throughout the first half. Despite spirited responses from the Stormers, including two tries from Damian Willemse, the visitors maintained control with intelligent phase play and physical defence.
The Stormers’ defence, previously a standout aspect of their unbeaten campaign, struggled to contain Sharks forwards in key moments. A yellow card to Salmaan Moerat early in the second half disrupted the hosts’ momentum, and Sharks captain Andre Esterhuizen sealed the bonus-point victory with a late try after sustained pressure. Though the Stormers were awarded a penalty try late, it proved mere consolation in a match where they were outplayed in several crucial areas.
For the Stormers, the loss marks their first defeat of the URC season and ends a streak of eight straight wins that had placed them atop the log. Coach John Dobson acknowledged the pain of the result but insisted his side would regroup and come back stronger in future encounters, particularly when the teams meet again next weekend in Durban.
The Sharks’ victory injects fresh life into their URC campaign. After a slow start to the season, this statement win, their second of the campaign, pushes them up the standings and underscores the team’s potential under interim coach JP Pietersen. The victory also provides a huge confidence boost ahead of a crucial phase of the URC season, reinforcing the Sharks’ credentials as dangerous contenders capable of upsetting the form book.
